Muzzle brake for a large caliber tubular weapon

Abstract

A muzzle brake (10) for a gun barrel (12) to be attached coaxially onto the muzzle end of the gun barrel up to a radially extending annular abutment surface (20) and provided with elongated gas discharge openings (14) which are arranged transversely to the axis of the bore (16) over its lateral effective length region (L 2 ) and have a minimum opening length (L 1 ) at the rear of the effective length of the muzzle brake (10), i.e., adjacent the position of the abutment surface (20), the axial inner bore (18) of the muzzle brake (10) has an inner diameter (d) which corresponds to the rifling diameter (d 1 ) of the gun barrel (12) and its rear end ends at the radially extending abutment surface. The gas discharge openings (14) are provided with rearwardly sloped baffles (24) and gas guide surfaces (26) which have different lengths in the rear region of the muzzle brake (10) and have the same opening length (L 1 ) in the forward region. The rear end of the muzzle brake (10) where it encloses the gun barrel (12) is connected with the gun barrel (12) by a separate tensioning device (22) and can be given a defined pretension. The tensioning device (22) exerts a high tractive force on the rear end of the muzzle brake (10) so that the abutment surface (20) lies sealingly pressed against the end surface (38) of the gun barrel muzzle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A muzzle brake to be attached coaxially to the muzzle end of a rifled gun barrel comprising: a tubular member having an axial bore and including a rear portion wherein said axial bore has a first diameter to fit over and center said muzzle brake on the outer circumferential surface of the muzzle end of a gun barrel, and a front portion wherein said axial bore has a reduced second diameter corresponding to the rifling diameter of the gun barrel so that a radially extending annular abutment surface is formed within said member between said front and rear portions; a plurality of elongated gas discharge openings formed in said front portion of said member and disposed along the length of said front portion, said gas discharge openings having their respective lengths extending transverse to the bore axis of said muzzle brake and having a minimum length adjacent said abutment surface, different lengths in a rear region of said front portion, and the same lengths in a forward region of said front portion, each of said gas discharge openings having front and rear edges defined by a rearwardly sloped baffle and a rearwardly sloped gas guide surface respectively; and tensioning means, connected to a rear end of said muzzle brake and connectable to the outer circumferential surface of a gun barrel, for exerting a defined high tractive force to said rear end of said muzzle brake to cause said abutment surface to abut and sealingly engage the end surface of a gun barrel muzzle. 
     
     
       2. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 1, wherein said opening lengths of the respective said gas discharge openings increase constantly from said minimum length for approximately one-half of the length of said front portion of said muzzle brake and then remain constant over the subsequent one-half of said length of said front portion. 
     
     
       3. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 1 wherein the length of said front portion of said muzzle brake relative to the caliber diameter of an associated gun barrel lies in a ratio of between 4 and 5. 
     
     
       4. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 1 wherein said front portion of said muzzle brake is provided with respective flattened portions at the top and bottom which extend over the entire length thereof. 
     
     
       5. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 1 wherein a drain opening is provided in the lower rear region of said first portion of said muzzle brake. 
     
     
       6. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of gas discharge openings are symmetrically disposed in pairs on opposite sides of said front portion of said muzzle brake, have their respective lengths extending parallel to one another, and are all of a constant width. 
     
     
       7. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 1, wherein: said tensioning means comprises an annular flange having means for connecting said flange to the outer surface of a gun barrel, said flange being provided with a plurality of axially extending throughbores for accommodating respective screws; and said rear end surface of said muzzle brake is provided with threaded axial bores for receiving and fastening said screws. 
     
     
       8. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 7 wherein said screws of said tensioning means are made of a high strength material having a minimum tensile strength of 1200 n/mm 2 . 
     
     
       9. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for connecting said flange with a gun barrel comprises a fine thread disposed on an inner surface of said annular flange. 
     
     
       10. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 1, wherein said baffles and said gas guide surfaces have different respective slope angles relative to said bore axis. 
     
     
       11. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 10, wherein said slope angle (α) of said baffles relative to said bore axis in the forward direction is in an angle range between 100° and 105° and said slope angle (β) of said gas guide surfaces relative to said bore axis in the forward direction is in an angle range between 110° and 120°. 
     
     
       12. A muzzle brake as defined in claim 11, wherein said baffles are disposed at a said slope angle (α) of 102° and said gas guide surfaces are disposed at a said slope angle (β) of 114° relative to said bore axis. 
     
     
       13. In combination with a rifled gun barrel, a muzzle brake attached coaxially to a muzzle end of said gun barrel and comprising: a tubular member having an axial bore and including a rear portion which extends coaxially over and centers said muzzle brake on an outer circumferential surface of said muzzle end of said gun barrel, and a front portion wherein said axial bore has a reduced diameter corresponding to the rifling diameter of said gun barrel so that a radially extending annular abutment surface is formed within said member between said front and rear portions; a plurality of elongated gas discharge openings formed in said front portion and disposed along the length of said front portion, said gas discharge openings having their respective lengths extending transverse to the bore axis of said muzzle brake and having a minimum length adjacent said abutment surface, different lengths in a rear region of said front portion, and the same lengths in a forward region of said front portion, and each of said gas discharge openings having front and rear edges defined by a rearwardly sloped baffle and a rearwardly sloped gas guide surface respectively; and, tensioning means connected between said surface of said gun barrel and a rear end surface of said muzzle brake, for exerting a defined high tractive force to said rear end of said muzzle brake to cause said abutment surface to abut and sealingly engage the end surface of said gun barrel muzzle. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said opening lengths of said gas discharge openings increase constantly from said minimum length over one-half of the length of said front portion of said muzzle brake, and then remain constant over the subsequent one-half of said length of said front portion. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the length of said forward portion of said muzzle brake relative to the caliber diameter of said gun barrel lies in a ratio of between 4 and 5. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said baffles and said gas guide surfaces have different respective slope angles relative to said bore axis. 
     
     
       17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said slope angle (α) of said baffles relative to said bore axis in the forward direction is in an angle range between 100° and 105° and said slope angle (β) of said gas guide surfaces relative to said bore axis in the forward direction is in an angle range between 110° and 120°. 
     
     
       18. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said tensioning means comprises: an annular flange connected to said surface of said gun barrel and provided with a plurality of axially extending throughbores; respective screws disposed in said throughbores; and a plurality of threaded axial bores disposed in said rear end surface of said muzzle brake and receiving and fastening respective said screws. 
     
     
       19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said screws of said tensioning means are made of a high strength material having a minimum tensile strength of 1200 n/mm. 
     
     
       20. Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said flange is connected with said surface of said gun barrel by a fine thread.